The Third Rail Podcast

America's Most Ambitious Subway Expansion of the 2020s [The Third Rail Podcast, Episode 4]

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:28:39 GMT

In Episode 4 of the Third Rail Podcast, Adam and Owen tackle two large transit headlines from the past month. First, Owen leads a discussion about the Los Angeles Metro's latest extension to the D Line, providing subway service along the Wilshire Corridor and glitzy Beverly Hills, an important transportation project ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympic Games. And then Adam breaks down WMATA's recent decision to support a new NFL Stadium by expanding the entrance at the Stadium-Armory Metrorail station, rather than constructing a new station from scratch.

Is There Room For Mass Transit in the Motor City? [The Third Rail Podcast, Episode 3]

Fri, 22 May 2026 17:32:08 GMT

In the third episode of The Third Rail, Adam and Owen welcome on William as the podcast's first ever guest host. William, a Michigan native, discusses the transit landscape in Detroit and some possible strategies to turn things around for public transportation in the motor city. And then William shares his experience traveling across Europe and the United States, and identifying common aspects of successful transit systems across the world.

WMATA's Billion-Dollar Automation Gamble [The Third Rail Podcast, Episode 2]

Thu, 07 May 2026 03:23:15 GMT

In episode 2 of The Third Rail, Adam and Owen unpack WMATA's $913 million initiative to automate the Red Line on the Washington Metrorail, with major implications about the system's reliability, safety, operational efficiency and labor relations. And then, they discuss a recent audit from Brightline in Florida, the nation's only privately-owned and -operated intercity passenger railroad, casting doubt on Brightline's longterm fiscal solvency. Expanding more broadly, the two discuss the pros and cons of private and public operation of intercity rail travel.

Should You Take Mass Transit to the World Cup? [The Third Rail Podcast, Episode 1]

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 23:53:40 GMT

All Aboard on the inaugural episode of The Third Rail Podcast! Adam and Owen introduce the series and then dive into local headlines across the country, from Seattle, to the Bay Area and then the Meadowlands. And the main topic -- can public transit adequately serve sports venues? What conditions are essential to successful collaboration between mass transit and major sports events? Tune in as Adam and Owen break it down!